BELLEVUE, Ohio — Joseph N. Burkhart, a Republican former Bellevue City Council member who publicly aligned himself with former President Donald Trump and promoted Vivek Ramaswamy’s 2026 Ohio gubernatorial campaign, is back in jail after a judge revoked his bond, according to court records and reporting from The Sandusky Register.
Burkhart, 39, was arrested on a warrant by the Huron County Sheriff’s Office after Huron County Common Pleas Court Judge James Conway revoked his bond. As of Tuesday afternoon, Burkhart remained incarcerated at the Huron County Jail with no bond and no future court hearings listed in online records.
Court documents reviewed by The Sandusky Register do not specify which bond conditions Burkhart allegedly violated. Jail records indicate he remained in custody as of Tuesday afternoon.
Burkhart previously served as an at-large member of Bellevue City Council and chaired the council’s Public Safety Committee. He lost his bid for re-election in November 2025 while facing 22 felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from a Sept. 19, 2025 incident investigated by the Huron County Sheriff’s Office.
As reported by TiffinOhio.net, Burkhart has consistently identified himself publicly as a Republican and Trump supporter. His social media accounts include photos of him attending Trump rallies and posing with national Republican figures. He also shared images and posts expressing support for Ramaswamy, whom Trump later endorsed as his preferred Republican candidate for Ohio governor in 2026.
The criminal case against Burkhart began after deputies responded to a domestic-related incident in Bellevue. Bellevue police requested the sheriff’s office take over the investigation due to what authorities described as a potential conflict of interest involving an elected official.
According to court records, Burkhart was indicted by a Huron County grand jury on 22 counts, including assault, strangulation, menacing by stalking, burglary, telecommunications harassment, tampering with evidence, and drug-related offenses. Deputies reported finding evidence of forced entry and suspected narcotics during the investigation.
Burkhart entered not guilty pleas at an October arraignment.
Despite the pending charges, Burkhart remained on the ballot in the November 2025 general election. He finished last in a four-candidate race for three at-large council seats, receiving 84 votes, or 12.3 percent, according to unofficial election results.
No public statement from Burkhart or his legal counsel regarding the bond revocation was available as of publication.
